Listen To Your Body
- “Selling Sunset” star Amanza Smith has opened up about her recent “wake-up call” when she was faced with a potentially life-threatening infection called osteomyelitis, which left her hospitalized over the summer.
- According to the National Library of Medicine, Osteomyelitis is “a serious infection of the bone that can be either acute or chronic. It is an inflammatory process involving the bone and its structures caused by pyogenic organisms that spread through the bloodstream, fractures, or surgery.”
- Now, she’s sharing her story to encourage others to always pay attention to their health and address any issues they’re having.
- Advocating for your health is so important. We’ve spoken with many people, particularly cancer survivors, who’ve urged others to pay attention to any health changes and make sure their concerns are being taken seriously.
- Advocating for yourself in a healthcare setting could include asking additional questions about symptoms or a diagnosis, getting a second opinion, or doing your own research so you can come to doctor appointments prepared to voice your concerns.
The 46-year-old luxury real estate agent and mental health advocate recently dived into detail on her battle with a potentially life-threatening infection called osteomyelitis, which left her hospitalized over the summer.
She added, “I thought I had a backache, and I almost died. The doctors and my friend saved my life.”
Prior to learning what was wrong, Smith had suffered terrible back pain that persisted for about one month, until the pain became so excruciating that she fell in her Los Angeles home.
Five days later, she allowed one of her best friends to bring her to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center On June 2. It was then bacteria was found in her blood and an MRI ultimately led to vertebral osteomyelitis diagnosis, a condition that was deteriorating the bone in Smith’s spine, she explained.
Once she was admitted into the hospital, Smith was given antibiotics treatment and underwent surgery on the lower part of her spine to “clear the infection from the bones.”
According to her doctor, her osteomyelitis, which she called a “sticky disease” was in a “really bizarre” location in her body. Additionally, the infection had spread to the front area of her spine, near her “aorta and kidney,”
meaning it wouldn’t be safe to operate on.
She told PEOPLE that the first spine surgery was to “clear it out” and that the IV antibiotics would treat the infection.
“But within two weeks it hadn’t gotten better. It had actually gotten worse,” she said, noting that part of her vertebrae was eventually replaced with a “titanium cage.”
Prior to undergoing her second and six-hour surgery, Smith said the risk “was the antibiotics wouldn’t penetrate the bone and my entire back could collapse.”
Smith, who returned home in July, explained she’ll be taking antibiotics for the remainder of the year following the second surgery. And despite all that she’s been through, she maintains hope for the future.
In fact, she playfully referred to herself in the interview as “iron woman, with rods and screws.”
In one of Smith’s recent Instagram posts, she celebrated her health, saying, “I am happy to tell you that I am in fact, not only cancer free, but also possibly aging backward and happier than I’ve been in forever!”
Not only did Smith deal with the infection in her spine, but she also had a cancer scare, which she incorporated into the reality TV show “Selling Sunset.” Smith underwent a scan of her uterus, and she claimed the scans “didn’t look good.” Luckily, her biopsy revealed “benign” results.
What is Osteomyelitis?
According to the National Library of Medicine, Osteomyelitis is “a serious infection of the bone that can be either acute or chronic. It is an inflammatory process involving the bone and its structures caused by pyogenic organisms that spread through the bloodstream, fractures, or surgery.”
Signs and symptoms of osteomyelitis, as per the Mayo Clinic, include:
- Fever
- Swelling, warmth and redness over the area of the infection
- Pain in the area of the infection
- Fatigue
However, at times, this infection may not cause any signs or symptoms. Or the signs or symptoms may be hard to decipher. “This may be especially true for infants, older adults and people whose immune systems are compromised,” the clinic explains.
“See your doctor if you experience worsening bone pain along with fever,” the clinic advises. “If you’re at risk of infection because of a medical condition or recent surgery or injury, see your doctor right away if you notice signs and symptoms of an infection.”
The Importance of Listening to Your Body Amanza Smith
Amanza Smith’s experience is one of many stories we’ve heard that highlights the ever-important need to advocate for your health and listen to the signs your body is giving you.
“You Are Your Own Best Advocate”
Ovarian cancer survivor Stephanie Virgin also knows how dangerous it can be to put your symptoms on the back burner. She was struggling with symptoms like cramping and lower back pain for quite a while before she finally decided to talk about them with a doctor.
“I could explain away every single one of my symptoms,” said. “I didn’t even realize they were symptoms. If you don’t feel right, call your doctor. If your doctor doesn’t listen, get a second opinion. You need to know that you are your own best advocate.”
Advocating For Yourself While Navigating the Medical World
Jenny Saldana, another cancer survivor, has also spoken to SurvivorNet about self-advocacy. Before she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she kept being dismissed by doctors and told she was “taking up resources for women that really need them.”
“The squeaky wheel gets the oil,” she said as her advice to others.
Tips for People to Advocate for Themselves
You know your body better than anybody else. That’s why it’s so important to advocate for yourself in a healthcare setting.
This applies to anyone experiencing new symptoms and looking for an answer, as well as people who have already been diagnosed with serious diseases like cancer. Doctors are there to guide you through a treatment plan, but your wants and needs should be part of that plan as well.
Oncologists and survivors alike stress the importance of advocating for yourself.
This could include:
- Asking additional questions about symptoms or a diagnosis
- Getting a second opinion
- Doing your own research so you can come to doctor appointments prepared to voice your concerns
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon and Director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet that patients, even before a serious diagnosis, should head to every doctor’s appointment prepared to take charge.
WATCH: Why You Need to Advocate for Yourself
“The truth is, you have to be in tune with your body and you have to realize that you are not a statistic,” Dr. Murrell said.
Taking charge could mean not letting your doctor brush off your symptoms. If you doctor thinks your symptoms are due to one condition, what’s the plan if they persist after a month of medication? It’s all a part of being proactive.
When it comes to getting a second opinion, you should feel completely comfortable seeking one out after a cancer diagnosis. This doesn’t mean you don’t trust your doctor, it’s simply a part of advocating for yourself.
WATCH: Getting a Second Opinion Is Crucial
“I support second opinions. I actually think it’s really important,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal cancer surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet in a previous conversation on the matter.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- What might my symptoms mean? What plan can we make to deal with them?
- What other conditions could be causing my symptoms?
- Are other treatment options available in my situation?
- What will the timeline for my treatment look like?
- What literature can you give me about my treatment plan?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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